Activity rich, time poor?

[vinteuil]

At university one lecturer said if you have only time to read one classical text make it Ovid’s Metamorphoses. “The key to understanding Medieval English Lit. “ I went straight out and bought the Penguin Classic. Forty plus years on it still sits on my shelves accusingly unread.

... the penguin classic? Surely they meant the Latin text??

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ovid-Metamorphoses-Oxford-Classical-Texts/dp/0198146663

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Metamorphoses-Bks-1-8-Loeb-Classical-Library/dp/0674990463

.

[Roslynmuse]

I like Wellington’s Victory both the historical event and the music. Less keen on the Scottish Folk songs though.

I last heard Wellington's Victory in 2015, and before that in 1978. I reckon that 2052 will be soon enough for the next audition, although I'll be pushing 88 then, if I'm still around.

[Serial_Apologist]

I last heard Wellington's Victory in 2015, and before that in 1978. I reckon that 2052 will be soon enough for the next audition, although I'll be pushing 88 then, if I'm still around.

You mean you can actually remember the actual dates???

[Richard Barrett]

it's going to take quite some time to get to John Zorn!

Good thing you aren't a completist because you'd probably be spending the best part of a century on his recorded output alone.

[Nick Armstrong]

Exactly.

While it isn't possible (unfortunately!) to follow up on all the interesting-looking leads provided by contributors to this forum, the fact that one might elevate Beethoven above all other composers shouldn't mean that one needs to listen to every note he wrote before looking at something else, especially given that Beethoven had his off days (in fact I can't think of another composer whose work varies in quality to the extent that his does!). It's always worth trying something else and then if desired immersing oneself in it. Beethoven will still be there, and one might even see his work in a new and enriching light. Since Skalkottas has been mentioned, some time ago I did give his work a try because it seemed promising in various ways, but I didn't really get anywhere with it. At the moment I'm spending a lot of my listening time with mediaeval music (and a bit of CPE Bach). I follow my nose when it comes to listening. Life is too short not to!

Subject to the ‘ears’ caveat - absolutely. (And technology is a huge boon in this pursuit).

The other effect of the phenomenon being discussed in this thread is that in relation to areas of music that leave me cold or worse (e.g. ‘minimalists’), levels of guilt and inclination to ‘make an effort’ to share others’ appreciation long ago dwindled to zero

(Incidentally, I have to agree about LvB - the main achievement of that R3 immersion week (or fortnight or month or whatever it was), for me, was to demonstrate the vast swathes of his output that were far from being at the level of his best.)

[Ein Heldenleben]

... the penguin classic? Surely they meant the Latin text??

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ovid-Metamorphoses-Oxford-Classical-Texts/dp/0198146663

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Metamorphoses-Bks-1-8-Loeb-Classical-Library/dp/0674990463

.

That was never made clear. There were a few Latin scholars but sadly not me . I think I have started just about every Latin and Greek classic in the Penguin series and only finished one..

[jayne lee wilson]

At university one lecturer said if you have only time to read one classical text make it Ovid’s Metamorphoses. “The key to understanding Medieval English Lit. “ I went straight out and bought the Penguin Classic. Forty plus years on it still sits on my shelves accusingly unread.

Not just Mediaeval English, but much later European Literature really...just look at the names of the Gods, Humans and characters within.... so much inspiration for later music, painting and writing...all the timelessly iconic expressions we have and use around Narcissus, Orpheus, Bacchus...
I guess you have the Penguin/Golding; beautiful, great in its time and after, but...you might want the verse to live in your own time...so...

If you still have the desire for it, Try this wonderful realisation by Horace Gregory, turns it into a Great 20thC English Poem in itself....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Metamorphoses-Signet-Classics-Ovid/dp/0451527933/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ovid+metamorphoses+horace+gregory&qid=1621189188&sr=8-1

The very opening of Book One will reveal its miraculous quality. Like all Great Poetic Translations, a Metamorphosis in itself; and a gift to all of us who come later... and who have "small Latin and less Greek..."

Lived with it for years, amused me, moved me, and it never let me down....no less than Robert Lowell was gushing in his approbation... but The Metamorphoses is a very dippable book, whether you are time poor or time rich..... if the latter then it is as ever all about choices...

[cloughie]

Subject to the ‘ears’ caveat - absolutely. (And technology is a huge boon in this pursuit).

The other effect of the phenomenon being discussed in this thread is that in relation to areas of music that leave me cold or worse (e.g. ‘minimalists’), levels of guilt and inclination to ‘make an effort’ to share others’ appreciation long ago dwindled to zero

(Incidentally, I have to agree about LvB - the main achievement of that R3 immersion week (or fortnight or month or whatever it was), for me, was to demonstrate the vast swathes of his output that were far from being at the level of his best.)

It was a year Nick, and the overkill got me listening to other composers - in comparison to the Mozart exposure of 1991 which left me comprehensively hooked, I tended to switch off though it served the purpose of returning a few long out of the catalogue sets of the symphonies eg Steinberg, Jochum (Philips) and Colin Davis, in addition to a number of new recordings which either reminded us if what they sounded like when LvB gave them to the World or maybe just gave conductors/performers an excuse to sound different - whatever - I’ve no doubt people listen to them for what they want them to be!
A good pinch of NaCl is usually available for most situations - as time goes on there does appear to be more music around that leaves me cold, and if I’m honest not a little angry.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Not just Mediaeval English, but much later European Literature really...just look at the names of the Gods, Humans and characters within.... so much inspiration for later music, painting and writing...all the timelessly iconic expressions we have and use around Narcissus, Orpheus, Bacchus...
I guess you have the Penguin/Golding; beautiful, great in its time and after, but...you might want the verse to live in your own time...so...

If you still have the desire for it, Try this wonderful realisation by Horace Gregory, turns it into a Great 20thC English Poem in itself....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Metamorphoses-Signet-Classics-Ovid/dp/0451527933/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ovid+metamorphoses+horace+gregory&qid=1621189188&sr=8-1

The very opening of Book One will reveal its miraculous quality. Like all Great Poetic Translations, a Metamorphosis in itself; and a gift to all of us who come later... and who have "small Latin and less Greek..."

Lived with it for years, amused me, moved me, and it never let me down....no less than Robert Lowell was gushing in his approbation... but The Metamorphoses is a very dippable book, whether you are time poor or time rich..... if the latter then it is as ever all about choices...

Ok now I really will read it. No excuses ....

[LMcD]

But now we’ll all want to know her playlist!

I'm just about to find out, and will be sure to let you know!

UPDATE:
As you were kind enough to enquire - or do I mean inquire?
Mrs McD's programme of selected recordings of musical items had to be shortened because of the late rescheduling of our viewing of Mr Zeffirelli's film (which we have provisionally awarded 3.51 stars), but she chose the following:
Dvorak Piano Quartet Opus 87
Weber Clarinet Concerto No. 2